Woman Gets Probation In Massage Case

President Judge Alfred T. Williams Jr. approved the application of Lovette Luisi, 37, of Northampton, arrested last August after she gave a state policeman an "all-body massage" at Close Encounters in East Allen Township.

Asst. Dist. Atty. Michael Vedomsky pointed out that Luisi - unlike some other area masseuses who also face prostitution charges - had been fully clothed. And Trooper Robert Dorman added that "she appears not to have a prior record."

Her lawyer, Richard Makoul, said Luisi, a tall blonde in a red suit and short high-heeled boots, worked briefly as his secretary "some years ago." He said she asked her employer at Close Encounters if massaging a client's genitals was legal and he assured her that it was.

Makoul said, "She is still working there, but they are not performing genital massages until the issue is clarified by the courts." Others arrested in a series of raids on area health spas are contesting the claim that such massages are a crime.

Makoul said he has advised Vedomsky that if Luisi successfully completes her 18-month probation period under ARD, he will ask the court to expunge her record - to wipe out all trace of the offense.

"The district attorney agrees there is no compelling state interest in keeping her record intact," he said.

Judge Williams said it appeared that "in the past few years, at least one other case like this was admitted to ARD." She will be on supervised probation for 12 months and nominal probation for the remaining six, and will be required to pay $350 in costs in the first six months.

Dist. Atty. Donald Corriere said Luisi's employer, Dallas Ray Vavra, charged with promoting prostitution, will not be offered ARD, which permits criminal charges against selected first offenders to be dismissed when the probation ends successfully.